St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-04-24
SEVENTEENTH OF MAY
sorway's Great Day of Independence to be
Celebrated With Pomp and
Festivity
By the Minneapolis Scandinavians-- A
Dip Into the History of the
Occasion.
Sorway'S National Poet, Henrik
Wergeland, and His Work in
Shaping the Event.
Programme for the Day--Sketches of
Prominent Men Who VIII Play
i-e>ain& Parts.

publishes the following information relating
10 Norway and the Norwegians. Amer-
cans cannot but be interested in all that re-
lates to Norway and its iaXen- haired, blue
aved race of men. Soon Minneapolis IS 10
be the central nucleus of one Of the most
interesting and extensive annual celebra-
hons of the present time. A bold and
highly intelligent plan is now being per-
rected, and, what more. is rapidly nearing
IT'S completion, by which the 18th of May.
Norway's national holiday, will be tittingly
celebrated in this city. For some time past
a number OF Minneapolis gentlemen OF Nor
wegian nationality, have quietly been at
work pertecting the details of this celebra-
lion. and the plan has 50 nearly reached
Inc expected elimination that it
nav now, with due propriety, be
made public. They contemplate celebrating
the annual occasion on May Il, the actual
date of the birthday of Norway's indie
peudence. Already permanent organ
ization has been effected. proper officers
elected. committees appointed, ana the
whole route of procedure mapped out. The
intention is to make this the he plus ultra
nj Northwestern celebrations among the
Scandinavian people. Then, too, proper
attention will be paid to all the historical
ample scope and play be given TO those who
shall speak that day. There is not, to be
sure. so very much time left between now
and Nav Il, and there is indeed large
amount of work TO be done meanwhile in
the preparations for this great event. One
of the underlying motives Of those gentle
men in charge of the days programme VIII
be to show, during all The exercises
of the celebration, the great contrast
Of feelings as they were a hundred
wears ago among the sturdy sons Of Nor
way, and as they are to-day, to make at
least one central idea impressive-that of
modern political growth and liberal devel-
Opment.
For these reasons it will certainly be of
interest TO the readers OF the GLOBE to
, know something of the salient facts or fun
damental points of the origin OF the cele-
bration.
INTRODUCTION.
There is says Paul du Chaillu, in his
famous work on ScandinavianS and the
Scandinavian peninsula, translated into
English under the name of The Land Of
the Midnight Sun''-''there is" he says,
"a beautiful country far away toward the
lev North. 1t is glorious land, with
snowy. bold and magnificent mountains;
deep, narrow and wellwOoded valleys,
clear and picturesque lakes, large and
superb glaciers; immense forests OF
birch. pine and fir trees: .nnmberless
rivulets and fjords, etc. This country is
inhabited chiefly by a race of men, brave.
simple, honest and good. They are the
descendants of the Norsemen and OF the Vik-
ings, who in the days of old, when Europe
was degraded by the chains OF slavery
were the only people that were free, COM
paratively speaking. and were governed by
the laws they themselves made"
These being facts, the Americans, as is
said before, cannot but be interested in all
that relates to Scandinavia. Norway, for
instance, sends annually 10000 of her sons
and daughters to the smiling shores OF the
new world, and they form, with the
Swedes, one of the most valuable class of
emigrants. Some might wonder why the
NorWegianS or SwedeS emigrate in such
a large number, when the country is such
a beautiful one? The answer has
been lucidly given by a Norwegian
farmer, who once was asked willy
he liked America better than
home. He said he got more meat could
eat at separate table. get far better wages.
and in fact was more of man in America
than at home This is the secret of the
emigrant movement of modern times! The
convincing argument OF meat twice day
and better social position will forever
press the poor and underpaid wOrkinglnen
of Europe toward America. Once here,
they will not forget what good their native
country has bestowed on them; and, just
byvisible deed to glorify the greatest good
Norway has accomplished in modern times.
the Observation-Disclosures will celebrate
the so-called birthday of independence"
neyth 18th of May, here in this Western
metropolis by the most fUuSng rites and
ceremonies.
ORIGIN OF THE INDEPENDENCE.
Of the origin of this independence, says
Bjornstjerne BjOrnson: Norway was
brought under one crown in the same way
that she was Christianzed, namely, by a
loyal edict. In 1912, when the grand alli-
ance was being formed. Sweden was easily
persuaded to ally itself with Russia. Among
the obligations and counter obligations
undertaken by the contracting parties, the
two most important were those OF the ceS-
sion to Sweden of Norway by the kings of
Denmark on the conclusion of the Napoe-
Onic war. Consequently in the year 1914
FEB. 81 Norway was ceded to Sweden by
virtue of the famous treaty of kiel.. The
Norwegian people. however, felt that their
liberty and independence were seriously en-
dangered. They would not consider them
selves as merchandise said Bjornson. Re-
sistance was resolved on. Everything de-
pended on their own resolution. They
declared their independence by calling a
legislative assembly. which met at Eds
void, near the southern end of the
beautiful Lake MioSen, not far from
Christiania, Norways capital in the
spring of 1914. A constitution was written
based upon the modern constitutions of
America. France and Spain. The essence
of this constitution Is, that the representa-
tive assembly, the so-called Storthing,
elected by perfectly qualified people. i'm
poses the taxes, makes laws, grants salaries
pensions and all expenditures. without the
intervention of the king.
UNION WITH swEDEs.
1t is true that the acquisition of Norway
had long been an object of ambition to the
kings of Sweden. Repeated invasions,
however were repealed by the courage and
valor Of the Norwegians. Charles XII.
met his death, as all who have read the his
tory of Scandinavia know, while prosecut-
ing the siege of the border fortress of
Frederickshall. Nevertheless, the im-
posed union with Swedes was finally
effected. with the express understanding
that the NOrwegians I'D retain the
full liberty and independence within their
own boundaries. These conditions were
agreed to by Karl Johan, and strictly main
tanned by succeeding Swedish kings few
unimportant alterations in the constitution,
necessitated by the altered conditions of the
new union. being the only changes intro
duced in the machinery of government since
1914.
The observance of the 18th of May was
not, however, Immediately solemnized
by the Norwegian people. 1t took ten years